The Old First Ward Arts & Heritage Festival is returning for its fourth year on Saturday, October 17, taking over Republic Street between Louisiana and Vincennes Streets, as well as the Old First Ward Community Center (62 Republic Street) and The Barcalo Building (225 Louisiana Street).
The festival celebrates the history, culture, creativity, and community of Buffalo's historic Old First Ward through art, music, making, storytelling, and shared experiences.
This year's festival will explore the theme Samhain - “Between Worlds,” inspired by the ancient Gaelic tradition, a seasonal festival marking the transition from harvest into winter and a time traditionally associated with gathering, remembrance, storytelling, nature, and the changing relationship between light and darkness.
We are looking for artists, makers, performers, storytellers, educators, and creative practitioners to develop and lead free, participatory workshops and activities throughout the festival that aligns with the 2026 theme. The stipend is up to $800 per submission. The workshops run 2-7pm. (breaks can be scheduled as needed)
We are looking for artists, makers, and creative practitioners to create site specific installation work that aligns with the 2026 theme that will be on display. The stipend is up to $1500 per submission.
THE THEME: Samhain was a time of transition: between seasons, between light and darkness, and between the old year and the new.For the Old First Ward Arts & Heritage Festival, we invite artists to interpret these ideas through their own creative practices and through the history and character of the neighborhood.
Deadline to apply is September 3rd.
Approved participants will be notified by September 17th. If you are approved to participate we will send you a contract and require a w9 to process payment. Set up will begin at 11:00AM on October 17th. Artists must be set up and ready to open by your scheduled time on the day of the festival. We look forward to reviewing your application !
For questions please email saraheidinger20@gmail.com or for general info about the festival visit
https://www.ofwartfestival.com
Please save a copy of your proposal before submitting. If accepted you will need to submit a copy of your budget on an invoice with a w9 for payment.
For examples of previous workshops check out our website. Some examples of types of work we are seeking this year:
Fire StoriesCreate illuminated "bonfires" using sculptural lighting.Invite elders, historians, and community members to tell Family stories, Ghost stories, Buffalo history, Indigenous stories of the changing seasons, PoetrThe storytelling circle echoes the communal role of Samhain bonfires.
Interactive Light Installation
Suspend long panels of translucent fabric down Republic St. pathway. Visitors walk between them as projected portraits, poems, leaves, stars, and historical photographs slowly fade in and out. Invite the community to submit: Photos of loved ones, Family recipes, Stories of Buffalo, Letters to future generations.
Community Weaving Visitors weave, Fabric strips, Natural fibers, Written wishes, Recycled textilesThe finished weaving becomes a collective artwork.
